Donate to or support
Talk to Action






Talk To Action Speakers Bureau


Religious Right Organizations

Site Sections

The War on Reproductive Rights

Attacking Public Education

Shadow War: the battle for mainstream faith
the covert campaign against liberal chuches and the social justice tradition

War on Judicial Independence

Recommended Books
[above: click on image for YouTube video trailer]"Renewal or Ruin": New Video Documentary By Steve D. Martin Spotlights Secretive Rightwing Effort To Destroy Mainstream Protestant Churches


Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy, by Frederick Clarkson


Right-Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort
by Chip Berlet and Matthew N. Lyons
sample chapter

God's Profits: Faith, Fraud and the Republican Crusade For Values Voters
By Sarah Posner


Liars for Jesus: The Religious Right's Alternate Version of American History
By Chris Rodda


Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism
: by Michelle Goldberg


With God on Their Side: How Christian Fundamentalists Trampled Science, Policy, and Democracy in George W. Bush's White House.
by Esther Kaplan


Straight to Jesus: Sexual and Christian Conversions in the Ex-Gay Movement
Tanya Erzen


Special Features

Attack on The United Churches of Christ

Attack on The United Methodist Church

"The Christian Right, Dominionism, and Theocracy", by Chip Berlet

Parts OneTwoThreeFourFive

"Taking Over The Republican Party", a four part series by Joan Bokaer

The Woman in A Mink CoatWhile We Were sleepingAngels On a PinheadUnder Cover of Night

The Indian River Incident : What You Can Do

link > The "Stop the ACLU Coalition" Shaming Project
How you can help stop "Stop The ACLU" just by sending a few emails



'Left Behind' video game imageThe Shaming Project

does the violence of "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" bother you ? If so, what can you do ? Well, to begin with you can email Jonathan Hutson's stories to people you know. That will help to bring more public scrutiny of the game. Public shaming really works ! Just click on the "email" icon and link at the top or bottom of the story and you'll be taken to a form that will allow you email the first story, The Purpose Driven Life Takers or the latest installment without leaving this site. Thanks. 'Left Behind' video game image

Donate to or support
Talk to Action




Prominent Abortion Provider Murdered at Church -- UPDATED
By Frederick Clarkson Sun May 31, 2009 at 02:04:28 PM EST printable version print story
Dr. George Tiller, a prominent abortion provider who has been the target of mass protests, arson at his clinic, attempted murder (shot in both arms) and more, was shot to death while attending church.  The Wichita Eagle reports:

WICHITA - George Tiller, the Wichita doctor who became a national lightning rod in the debate over abortion, was shot to death Sunday morning as he walked into church services.

Tiller was shot just after 10 a.m. at Reformation Lutheran Church at 7601 E. 13th, where he was a member of the congregation. Witnesses and a police source confirmed Tiller was the victim.


We have written a great deal here at Talk to Action about the harrassment of Dr. Tiller at the hands of Operation Rescue, and now that this has happened, it is likely we will be writing more.

For now, here is some background from a two-part article I published ten years ago in Intelligence Report, the magazine of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Anti-abortion Violence:  Two Decades of Arson Bombs and Murder

Anti-Abortion Extremists: Patriots and Racists Converge

Update [2009-5-31 19:59:49 by Frederick Clarkson]: The suspect police arrested is one Scott Roeder,

Officers said they had been looking for a white male who was driving a 1993 powder blue Ford Taurus with Kansas license plate 225 BAB. The vehicle is registered to an owner in Merriam, which is in the Kansas City area. Johnson County Sheriff's deputies stopped Scott Roeder on I-35 between the two main Gardner exits around 1:30 p.m. He surrendered without incident. Deputies did not find any weapons on him. "We shut down I-35 and directed him to come back to us. He complied with our request. He was arrested and taken into custody," Lt. Mike Phannestiel said. According to Phannestiel, Roeder is on temporary hold for Sedgwick County at the Johnson County New Century Detention Center near Gardner. Roeder is considered a person of interest at this time. He has not been questioned nor has his car been searched. They will release him into the custody of the Wichita Police. Several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and KBI, had been called in to help with this high-profile case.
Rising Hegemon reports that he is a supporter of Operation Rescue.


To discuss this story, sign up for a free account

Display:
Prominent Abortion Provider Murdered at Church -- UPDATED | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 hidden)
Unfortunately it's not a surprise (5.00 / 1)
This is where the rhetoric we hear from the politicized Christian Right leads.

by khughes1963 on Sun May 31, 2009 at 06:16:23 PM EST

Now Maybe America Will Listen (5.00 / 2)
How long have the writers here and at other sites been talking about The American Taliban? Maybe people will listen.
Randall Terry, Rush Limbaugh, and all of the other hatemongers need to be sitting at that defendants table along with the gunmen.
So much for framing arguments and trying to have dialogue. These terrorists have shown their true colors.
Time for the government to act.
As you can probably tell, I'm seriously pissed.

by Frank Frey on Sun May 31, 2009 at 07:18:38 PM EST

Scott Roeder post on OR site, 1996 bomb conviction (5.00 / 2)
Check out this link

>http://www.the-peoples-forum.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=12019

by mayfly on Sun May 31, 2009 at 09:30:57 PM EST


Taliban (5.00 / 2)
Taliban II is coming, and this time they wear a cross.

Seriously- what's next?   I've been expecting violence driven by fundamentalism/dominionism for some time now.  I expect either of two scenarios from this- either they will claim that this is a "loan madman" (thus trying to avoid their complicity) or there will be much more violence, indicating that they're ramping things up.  I hope that it won't be the second scenario.

by ArchaeoBob on Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 12:04:40 AM EST

probably both (5.00 / 1)
Already some of the theocrats' comments have been, "Of course, he (the murderer) shouldn't have done it--but it's to be expected that sooner or later it would happen.  

I think they are going with the "lone acting completely on his own"--shooter meme AND ramping up the violence.

by mayfly on Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 09:25:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

That is my take on the situation. (5.00 / 1)
I'm also a bit unhappy with the news services.  The AP headline I'm looking at says "Kansas abortion provider was polarizing force".  They should say "Religious Right churches are polarizing this country with their attempts to force their beliefs on others!"

Something that I remember from the Clinton years really rings true in this situation.  I remember hearing time and time again "Words have power!!!"  Well, all the rhetoric from those anti-choice groups have power too- and this is the result.

I might add that I don't believe a single peep of their protestations.  They're a part of the problem, and not a part of the solution!!!

I remember how all us walkouts were tarnished when Murray went crazy.  I'd bet that in a lot of those churches, they still think that he was encouraged instead of the truth- people were trying to help him and get him help- and then when he posted his final post which indicated he was going to do something bad, they tried to get him stopped.  

In this case, I'd bet that they're going to talk publicly how wrong this was, but privately egg people on.  In the Murray situation, the people involved tried to STOP Murray, just the opposite of what I expect from those anti-choice groups.

by ArchaeoBob on Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 11:27:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]




Other sites (5.00 / 2)
Orcinus notes that the murder was on the anniversary of the capture of Eric Rudolph, and contributors to Democratic Underground have been rooting around for information on Roeder.

by Richard Bartholomew on Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 04:26:11 AM EST
check out the peoples forum link above (5.00 / 1)


by mayfly on Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 09:27:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]


America's al-Queda (5.00 / 1)
I am amazed that in the post-9/11 age of surveillance and repression, violent anti-choice terrorists were treated like a non-issue. Their banquets honoring those who committed acts of terrorism were in the DC area.

The suspected murderer of Dr. Tiller has been reported to be linked to 'Operation Rescue,' a militia in Kansas, and the 'Freemen.'

The history of theocratic terrorism is overdue for being acknowledged. There are even more hate leaders and pundits than ever before. Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta

by Rev Bookburn on Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 11:44:58 AM EST


Crazy 'Christianists' with guns (5.00 / 1)
This is appalling. I am heartsick and my heart goes out to Dr. Tiller's family. I think Andrew Sullivan has given this murder fair coverage. He is against abortion and pro-Ron Paul, but clearly against Christianist acts of murder and terror. andrewsullivan While Ron Paul may "mean well" and is not a raving maniac, I think his Sanctity of Life Act is part of the "rhetoric problem," including its support by his presidential choice Chuck Baldwin. unborn I think there's something fundamentally dishonest about referring to a day-old fertilized egg and an embryo and a fetus as an "unborn child." It's a wonder some of the Christianists don't try to criminalize miscarriages. If I am not mistaken, Ron Paul appeared on the View television program (see youtube) and referred to the fetus (or zygote) as an unborn child. It is difficult not to become fearful in a growing atmosphere of mindless fanaticism.

by Heretic on Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 06:52:25 PM EST

Prominent Abortion Provider Murdered at Church -- UPDATED | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 hidden)

WWW Talk To Action


Its the Substance, Not the Slogan
As Talk to Action regulars know, we believe that name calling and cheap sloganeering are no substitute for actual knowledge and the capacity to......
By Frederick Clarkson (6 comments)
Short Takes: The Family edition
Religion Dispatches: A number of religious leaders called on president Obama to condemn the proposed Ugandan kill the gays bill, which had been originally......
By Frederick Clarkson (0 comments)
Will National Prayer Breakfast Once Again Flaunt Fake George Washington 'Prayer' ?
It was February 2006. President George Bush, King Abdullah of Jordan, and Bono all gathered at the 2006 National Prayer Breakfast. If they read......
By Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
NY Times, AP, Cable News Reports on Air Force Academy Don't Get the Picture
In recent weeks, there has been a pretty steady stream of articles reporting on the much improved religious climate at the U.S. Air Force......
By Chris Rodda (3 comments)
The Road to Remonstrance
I recently wrote about the need for mainstream and liberal Catholics to offer remonstrance -- an earnest presentation of reasons for opposition or grievance......
By Frank Cocozzelli (7 comments)
Angry Voters, Right-Wing Populism, & Racial Violence
Eric Ward is nervous. He's seen it before--the angry right-wing populist crowds, the strident calls to "Restore America" and "Take it Back." In the......
By Chip Berlet (8 comments)
Historians Whack "Liberal Fascism" Thesis
David Neiwert has pulled together a critique of the idea of "Liberal Fascism" over at the History News Network: "It has now been just......
By Chip Berlet (1 comment)
Texas Churches and the Governor's Race
In Polk County Texas, Governor Rick Perry held a campaign rally in one of the Black churches.  He was joined by the head of......
By wilkyjr (0 comments)
Richard Land and Presidential Politics
Andrew Hogue of Baylor University has chronicled the story of Richard Land's connection to Presidential power.  Writing in Texas Baptist History's 2006 Journal, Hogue......
By wilkyjr (0 comments)
Good Riddance 'Jesus Rifles' -- Trijicon to Stop Putting Bible References on Military Rifle Sights
(I've updated this post to add some photos and other stuff to rebut the most common comments I'm seeing on other articles and blogs.)......
By Chris Rodda (1 comment)
Movement Behind Uganda's "Kill the Gays" Bill Organizing in Newark
Street by street, block by block, organized by city ward, PrayforNewark's squads of church members are walking their city, praying for residents and businesses.......
By Bruce Wilson (6 comments)
Resource Directory for the New Apostolic Reformation
The Apostles and Prophets of the New Apostolic Reformation view their postdenominational movement as the future face of the Protestant church and the end......
By Rachel Tabachnick (0 comments)
Sight Fight: U.S. Military Must See Problem With Bible Engravings
Yesterday I wrote on AU's blog about a controversy that has erupted over the revelation that a Michigan-based company has engraved references to biblical......
By Rob Boston (5 comments)
History Matters: Obama Declares Religious Freedom Day
President Barack Obama has issued a Proclamation declaring January 16th Religious Freedom Day. (PDF) In it he invokes the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom......
By Frederick Clarkson (0 comments)
Video Exposes Antigay Western Theocratic Effort "Transforming" Uganda
My new 20 minute documentary, Transforming Uganda, exposes the immense political influence in Uganda of the International Transformation Network and ideological influence of George......
By Bruce Wilson (3 comments)

Pope John Paul II's Penitential Practices: The Opus Dei Connection
We are pleased to once again welcome theologian William Lindsey as a guest front pager. This piece is crossposted from the new progressive Catholic group blog, The Open Tabernacle: Here Comes Everybody. -- FC......
By William Lindsey (0 comments)
WallBuilders, Inc., Promoting a dominionist "Christian Nation"
Cherry Hill Seminary Supports Patrick McCollum in 9th Circuit Case Against California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation http://snipurl.com/u8kcj ......
By Dragonzmajick (0 comments)
Roeder verdict sparks fears of more anti-abortion violence
cross-posted at dKos Scott Roeder is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of George Tiller.  At the very least, he'll by 75 years old before he can......
By Christian Dem in NC (1 comment)
The dark underside of the Latter Rain--a walkaway's view
cross-posted at dKos I read Bruce Wilson's posts on dKos and Talk To Action regarding the "Pray For Newark" initiative with particular alarm.  While Pray for Newark appears to espouse an admirable goal--community empowerment--it's......
By Christian Dem in NC (2 comments)
Bishops as Provocateurs
In a thinly-veiled reference to the campaign of President Barack Obama, Archbishop Emeritus of St. Louis, Raymond Burke, charged that Americans are "embracing a totalitarianism which masks itself as the 'hope,' the 'future' of......
By bettyclermont (0 comments)
The Vatican v. Children
Yesterday was not a good day for children seeking justice from the Roman Catholic Church. The internet brought the following news: ......
By bettyclermont (0 comments)
Religious bigots control supermarket chain
Well, they've won again.  The religious bigots have forced Publix Supermarkets into bowing to their wishes. ......
By ArchaeoBob (5 comments)
Manhattan Declaration is to Theology what Fox is to Journalism
The December 20, 2009, New York Times ran a lengthy article by David D. Kirkpatrick about Robert P. George, "The Conservative-Christian Big Thinker." The occasion was release of George's "Manhattan Declaration" signed by the......
By bettyclermont (2 comments)
Merry Freakin' Christmas: I'm Taking Your Stuff, and you Can't Stop Me!
A humorous look at the larger implications of a seemingly harmless holiday tradition. ......
By John Sheirer (1 comment)
Lou Engle, September 25, 2007, Los Angeles: "Holywood"
[This is a partial transcription of a sermon/speech Lou Engle, Founder of TheCall gave on September 25, 2007, in Los Angeles. The full sermon is slightly over 63 minutes. This partial transcript is of......
By Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
Rick Warren Tweet complains my videos of his "Hitler/Lenin/Mao" speech are unfair
It's gratifying to know "America's most powerful pastor" seems to have taken notice of my videos, showcasing Rick Warren's 2005 speech at California's Anaheim Angels Stadium, during which Warren outlined a "stealth" program to......
By Bruce Wilson (4 comments)
Blurring Reproductive Rights and the Religious Right
The principle of the Hyde Amendment, which restricted federal funds from paying for abortion back in 1976 -- is now seen as an acceptable, "abortion neutral" position for the prochoice Democratic Party. How did......
By Frederick Clarkson (0 comments)
Rick Warren Calls on Followers To Be Dedicated as Followers of Lenin and Mao
[note: for more recent news on Rick Warren, see Rick Warren's Dissertation Advisor Leads Network Promoting Uganda Anti-Gay Bill] Video, below contains audio recording, photos, and transcript from Rick Warren's April 17, 2005 speech......
By Bruce Wilson (6 comments)
Julius Oyet Touts The College of Prayer
A new Talk To Action story identifies Apostle and bishop Julius Oyet as a major player in the recent effort in the Ugandan parliament to pass a draconian anti-gay bill. In this video [transcript......
By Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
Mark Silk on the Hagee / Rodriguez Entente
Mark Silk, at Spiritual Politics has picked up on my notice of the Hagee-Rodriguez embrace and zeroes in on what's certainly one of the most notable aspects: "The key thing to understand about the......
By Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
Inscribing Christian Values in our Children Before Birth?
Following the evolution of evangelical discourse as it re-defines homosexuality as evidence of "fallen creation", Terri Murray looks at how the Christian right have shifted their rhetoric to adapt to empirical research showing that......
By TMurray (0 comments)
US News & World Report Showcases Creationist Ray Comfort
US News and World Report's Dan Gilgoff has charitably provided evangelist Ray Comfort a media platform in the form of a US News & World "exclusive" through which Comfort defends his efforts to distribute,......
By Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
Atheist billboard in Central Florida
The organization "Atheists of Florida" sponsored a billboard promoting atheism in Lakeland, Florida.  I, however, have some concerns. ......
By ArchaeoBob (3 comments)
Transcript: Billy Graham and Richard Nixon, February 21, 1973
The following is my own transcript of a 20 minute phone conversation between Richard Nixon and Billy Graham, on February 23, 1973. As far as I am aware this is the only publicly available,......
By Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
Rifqa Bary being sent back to Ohio now
Well, there's a change in this case.  After the judge gets immigration documents and so on from the parents, he will send her back. ......
By ArchaeoBob (0 comments)
The War on The War on Christmas Goes To Pot
The first day of Fall could be considered the official launch date for the annual war on the war on Christmas, which represents a significant part of the the American Family Association business model......
By Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
School Officials off the hook
Today it is reported that the judge excused the school officials who violated the agreement they had over separation of Church and State. ......
By ArchaeoBob (0 comments)
Dominionists trying to outlaw birth control
Well, they're at it again in Florida. ......
By ArchaeoBob (5 comments)
No Danger for Rifqa Bary
The FDLE just completed an investigation and found "no credible reports of threats" against Rifqa Bary. ......
By ArchaeoBob (1 comment)
Truth hitting the mainstream!
I've despaired of ever seeing anything critical or exposing Dominionism hit the mainstream press.  There is now an exception. ......
By ArchaeoBob (0 comments)
Extremism?
The term extremism is currently in vogue to describe hate groups and other malcontents listed as such by knowledgeable monitors like SPLC and others in the T2A sidebar, but while we all know what......
By Jay Taber (2 comments)
My Netroots Nation Panel Talk
Where Do We Stand in the Bright Light of History? Netroots Nation August 14, 2009 Thank You, Professor Ledewitz, for initiating this discussion of a progressive vision for church and state -- and Netroots......
By Frederick Clarkson (0 comments)
Transcript, Jan. 18, 2009 Steven Anderson Sermon Excerpt
Note: the sermon excerpt video and transcript below, from a January 18, 2009 sermon by pastor Steven Anderson of the Tempe, Arizona Independent Baptist Church, begins at approximately 21:30 into Anderson's  one hour, four......
By Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
More anti-Muslim provocation
The local paper reports that students in Gainsville, Florida are wearing T-shirts with "ISLAM IS OF THE DEVIL" printed on them. ......
By ArchaeoBob (1 comment)

More Diaries...


Donate to or support
Talk to Action
Left Behind: Eternal Forces: Installments of Jonathan Hutson's Talk To Action expose series on the "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" video game have been viewed by up to 1/2 million people. See our site section featuring Over 35 original articles covering the controversial "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" video game that has provoked a boycott by a coalition of religious groups and a letter writing campaign urging Walmart to stop selling the game. Media inquiries click here
(image: detail from Francoise Dubois' rendition of the Bartholomew's Day Massacre reveals the actual nature of religious warfare)







Blogs

Bartholomew's Notes On ReligionChip BerletMax BlumenthalThe Panda's ThumbFrederick Clarkson Chuck Currie DefCon father Jake Stops The World John Gorenfeld Religion Clause Chris Mooney Religious Right Watch The Revealer Jesus Politics Majority Report Radio Blog Mainstream Baptist Orcinus Dispatches from the Culture Wars Ex-Gay Watch The Wall of Separation Blog From The Capital:a blog on religious liberty issues and the separation of church and state

CrossLeft: Organizing The Christian Left Dark Christianity The Daily Kos Booman TribuneePluribus Media My Left Wing Political Cortex Street Prophets

Organizations

American Booksellers Foundation for Freedom of ExpressionACLUAnti-Defamation LeagueAmerican Library AssociationChristian Alliance for ProgressCitizens ProjectDefCon: Campaign to Defend The ConstitutionFaithful America People For the American wayInstitute For Democracy StudiesInterfaith AllianceJews On First: Defending the First AmendmentAmerican Fundamentalists Americans United for Separation of Church and StateBaptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty The Clergy and laity Network Political Research Associates Theocracy Watch Media Matters for AmericaMilitary Religious Freedom FoundationMontana Human Rights NetworkNational Center For Science EducationReligious Coalition for Reproductive ChoiceThe RevealerSouthern Poverty Law CenterTexas Freedom NetworkCrossLeft: Organizing the Christian LeftTheocracy WatchTruth Wins Out"